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First aid requirements
Requirements under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.
Employers have a duty to make provision for First Aid under the Health and Safety (First Aid at Work) Regulations 1981.
Number of first aiders required?
The number of staff trained in first aid in a particular area within an area depends on the number of people that work in a particular area and the hazards associated with the work which is carried out there.
For example, an area which regularly has a high number of people working in it, or which has people with special health problems, would need more first aiders than one which only has a few people working in it. Similarly, laboratories which use chemicals or dangerous machinery must have greater first aid cover than office areas.
It is for each department to assess their first aid needs in the light of their particular circumstances. However, it is important for departments to consider that First Aiders are trained to provide first aid cover not only to their own department but also to others within the local vicinity or where the need arises. This is particularly relevant in multi-occupancy buildings, which accommodate several departments. Some smaller departments may therefore not require their own staff to be trained in first aid depending on the number of First Aiders available in the local vicinity.
Details in the following table are suggestions only - they are not definitive nor are they a legal requirement.
| Category of risk | Numbers employed at any location | Suggested number of first aid personnel |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Risk (Offices / Libraries) | <50 | At least 1 person trained in Emergency First Aid at Work |
| 50-100 | At least 1 first aider | |
| >100 | 1 additional first aider for every 100 employed | |
| Medium Risk (Catering / Sports & Exercise, etc) | <20 | At least 1 person trained in Emergency First Aid at Work |
| 20-100 | At least 1 First aider for every 50 employed | |
| >100 | 1 additional first aider for every 100 employed | |
| High Risk (Laboratories / Workshops) | <5 | At least 1 person trained in Emergency First Aid at Work |
| 5-50 | At least one first aider | |
| >50 | One additional first aider for every 50 employed |
Becoming a first aider
To become a qualified first aider you must attend a three day training course and then successfully complete a short practical and oral assessment, after which you will be awarded a First at Work Certificate which is valid for three years. Training is then kept up to date by means of a two day requalification course and assessment.
This article was published on Oct 21, 2010